DeAnn Konkel, Coordinator
CERT promotes a partnering
effort between emergency services and the people in the
community. The CERT program educates people about
disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their
area.
CERT provides training in emergency preparedness and basic response techniques enabling citizens to take a more active role in personal and public safety. Each CERT member completes 24 hours of training on disaster preparedness, basic disaster medical operations, fire safety, light search and rescue, and other essential topics. The training also includes a disaster simulation in which participants practice skills they learned throughout the course. In the event of an emergency, CERT members can provide immediate assistance to victims, assist in organizing spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site and provide critical support to first responders.
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Join the Sedgwick County CERT today.
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phone numbers?
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of the change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of CERT members?
If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the community’s professional response, CERT members can assist others by applying the basic response and organizational skills that they learned during training. These skills can help save and sustain lives following a disaster until help arrives. CERT skills also apply to daily emergencies.
How does CERT benefit the community?
People who go through CERT training have a better understanding of the potential threats to their home, workplace and community and can take the right steps to lessen the effects of these hazards on themselves, their homes or workplace. If a disaster happens that overwhelms local response capability, CERT members can apply the training learned in the classroom and during the exercises to give critical support to their family, loved ones, neighbors or associates in their immediate area until help arrives. When help does arrive, CERTs provide useful information to responders and support their efforts, as directed at the disaster site.
Who can become a CERT member?
CERT training is available to anyone who lives or works in Sedgwick County and is at least 18 years old.
What is required to become a CERT member?
To become a CERT member, you need to complete the 24-hour basic training session. Typically the training includes eight sessions, seven skill building sessions and a final session that is a disaster simulation in which participants are able to practice the skills they have learned throughout the course.
How do I sign up for training?
For more information about education and training, please contact the Sedgwick County Division of Public Safety at 316-660-9393 or apply online to become a CERT member and receive information on upcoming training.
How much does the CERT training cost?
Training is offered free of charge by the Sedgwick County Division of Public Safety. Upon training completion, each CERT member will receive a CERT backpack with various disaster response materials.
What else do CERT members participate in?
CERT members maintain and refine their skills by participating in refresher classes and exercises. They can attend supplemental training opportunities offered by the sponsoring agency and others that further their skills base. In addition, CERT members can help educate the public on disaster preparedness, while also informing them about what CERT is.
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